17BetaHSD Type 5 Inhibitor

ABSTRACT

To provide a novel and excellent method for treating and/or preventing prostatic cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, baldness, alopecia, precocious puberty, adrenal hypertrophy, polycystic ovary syndrome, breast cancer, lung cancer, endometriosis, leiomyoma and the like based on selective inhibitory activity against 17βHSD type 5. 
     It was found that an N-sulfonylindole derivative, where the indole ring is substituted by a carboxy group, a carboxy-substituted lower alkyl group or a carboxy-substituted lower alkenyl group at its carbon atom, has potent selective inhibitory activity against 17βHSD type 5 and may become a therapeutic agent and/or preventive agent for benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic cancer and the like without accompanying adverse drug reactions due to a decrease in testosterone, and the present invention has thus been completed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an indole compound having apharmacological activity and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.The present invention also relates to a medicament or a pharmaceuticalcomposition containing the indole compound or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof described above as an active ingredient.

BACKGROUND ART

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a disease mainly occurring inelder males aged 50 years or above and accompanying urinary disturbance,and its incidence rate increases as an increase in age. The number ofpatients with BPH in Japan has been constantly increasing in recentyears with rapid aging of population structure (Non-patent Document 1).BPH remarkably deteriorates the quality of life of the aged males due tourinary disturbance, and it is an important disease in terms of medicaleconomics since it is most frequently diagnosed and treated in medicalpractice in the department of urology.

It has been found that two factors, that is, direct urethral compressiondue to hypertrophy of the prostate (mechanical obstruction) andelevation of intraurethral pressure due to overcontraction of theprostatic smooth muscle via the sympathetic nerve (functionalobstruction), are simultaneously involved in urinary disturbanceaccompanying BPH. Drug therapy can deal with the both of the mechanisms,and 5α-reductase inhibitors are mainly used for the mechanicalobstruction and α1-sympatholytic agents (α1 blockers) for the functionalobstruction. 5α reductase inhibitors regress the prostate due to theiranti-androgenic effect based on the suppression of conversion fromtestosterone to more potent 5α-dehydrotestosterone (DHT) of androgen bya 5α-reductase. Only the prostatic epithelium regresses, however, and ittakes a long period of time (several weeks to several months) for itsdrug efficacy to appear. Since α1-blockers exert their drug efficacyswiftly after administration and are excellent in safety, on the otherhand, α1-blockers are now the first-line agent for the treatment of BPH.Since long-term clinical studies of a 5α-reductase inhibitor haverevealed, however, that the inhibitor preferentially delays the transferto invasive therapy as compared with an α1-blocker used alone, and thelike (Non-patent Document 2), the usefulness of 5α-reductase inhibitorshas recently been recognized again.

It has been considered that DHT in the prostate is produced by5α-reductase from testosterone, which is produced in the testes andsecreted endocrinologically to the prostate. It has been reportedrecently, however, that about half of DHT and its precursor,testosterone in prostate are synthesized from dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA), an adrenal steroid, in cells of the prostate (Non-patentDocument 3). Such sex hormone production system in cells of the sexhormone target organs is called intracrinology.

It is difficult for 5α-reductase inhibitors to inhibit the localtestosterone synthesis (intracrine testosterone synthesis) in theprostate. For example, it has been reported that the concentration ofDHT in the prostate of the patients with BPH decreased after theadministration of finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor, to about 20% ofthe concentration before the administration, while the concentration oftestosterone, a precursor, in the prostate increased 4-fold inversely(Non-patent Document 4). It means that although the 5α-reductaseinhibitor has an effect of reducing DHT concentration in prostate, ithas no effect of reducing the concentration of testosterone in prostateand elevates the concentration instead. Since testosterone has anandrogen receptor binding activity in the order of half that of DHT,this local elevation of the concentrations of testosterone in prostateis considered to be partly attributable to insufficient drug efficacy offinasteride for BPH.

Anti-androgen therapies using surgical castration and gonadotropinreleasing hormone agonists are also used for the treatment of prostaticcancer. These anti-androgen therapies have been reported to exert aninsufficient effect of reducing the concentrations of testosterone inprostate. For example, in patients with prostatic cancer who receive theanti-androgen therapy, the concentration of testosterone in blooddecreased to about 10% of the concentration before the therapy, whilethe concentration of dehydrotestosterone in prostate remained at about50% (Non-patent Document 5). It suggests that the concentration oftestosterone in prostate is neither reduced sufficiently. Further,androgen receptors were localized in nuclei also in a prostatic cancerrecurring after anti-androgen therapy (hormone refractory prostatecancer), and no significant difference was observed between theconcentration of testosterone in recurrent prostatic cancer tissue andthat in the normal prostate (Non-patent Document 6). These reportsstrongly suggest that the effect of reducing the concentrations oftestosterone in prostate in existing therapeutic methods is quiteinsufficient for the treatment of recurrent prostatic cancer and thatsuppression of the testosterone synthesizing mechanism in prostate, thatis, intracrine testosterone synthesis in prostate may be a new target ofthe prostatic cancer therapy.

Based on the known arts described above, since inhibitors of intracrinetestosterone synthesis in prostate have an effect of reducing theconcentrations of testosterone in prostate and no effect of reducing theconcentrations of testosterone in blood, the inhibitors are expected tobe very attractive agents for the treatment of BPH, which can reduce notonly the concentrations of testosterone but also the concentrations ofDHT in prostate (1) and can avoid the adverse drug reactions due to thesuppression of the concentrations of the testosterone in blood derivedfrom testes (2).

17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17βHSD) is essential for thebiosynthesis of testosterone. There are several subtypes of17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type5 (17βHSD type 5) is highly expressed in a human prostate and theincreases of the expression were reported for prostatic cancer andrecurrent prostatic cancer (Patent Document 1, and Non-patent Documents7, 18). On the other hand, almost all the testosterone in blood isbiosynthesized by 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (17βHSD type3) in testes and the expression of 17βHSD type 3 is scarcely observed inother tissues including the prostate (Non-patent Document 8). 17βHSDtype 5 is thus considered to be attributable to the intracrinetestosterone synthesis in prostate and selective inhibitors for 17βHSDtype 5 are expected to suppress intracrine testosterone synthesis inprostate selectively. Further, since attribution of 17βHSD type 5 hasbeen pointed out also in estrogen-dependent tissues such as the breastand the like, the selective inhibitors are expected to be effective forestrogen-dependent diseases such as breast cancer and the like (PatentDocument 1 and Non-patent Document 9). In addition, since AKR1C3(another name for 17βHSD type 5), which is a subtype of aldo-ketoreductase (AKR), metabolizes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) togenerate reactive oxygen species (ROS) (Non-patent Document 10) andsince single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of AKR1C3 gene relating tooxidation stress correlates to a risk of lung cancer (Non-patentDocument 11), it is suggested that the activity of AKR1C3 in the lungsincreases a risk of lung cancer via biosynthesis of ROS from PAH.Selective inhibitors of 17βHSD type 5 are expected to be effective forlung cancer.

As 17βHSD type 5 inhibitors, steroid derivatives (Patent Document 1) andnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as flufenamic acid,indomethacin and the like (Non-patent Document 12), cinnamic acidderivatives (Non-patent Document 20) and the like have been reported.Although the mechanism of action is different, a certain type ofindazole derivative is known to be effective for BPH (Patent Document7). However, it has not been known that indole derivatives such as thecompound of the present invention inhibit 17βHSD type 5 and areeffective for BPH.

At the same time, although a certain type of indole compound is known tobe effective for Ehrlich ascites cancer (Non-patent Document 19), theyare not known to be effective for another type of cancer, prostaticcancer and BPH. In addition, although the known compounds describedbelow having structures similar to the structure of the compound of thepresent invention are excluded from the compound of the presentinvention, the compounds described below are not known to be used forthe treatment or prevention of the diseases described for the presentinvention.

Patent Document 1: International Publication WO99/46279

Patent Document 2: International Publication WO03/68220

Patent Document 3: International Publication WO96/36611

Patent Document 4: International Publication WO99/50245

Patent Document 5: International Publication WO97/48697

Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. H09-104675

Patent Document 7: International Publication WO2004/064735

Non-patent Document 1: National Institute of Population and SocialSecurity Research: Population Prediction for Japan (estimated inJanuary, 1997), Japan, 1997, p. 1900

Non-patent Document 2: The New England Journal of Medicine, 2003, Vol.349, p. 2387-2398

Non-patent Document 3: Frontier in Neuroendocrinology, 2003, vol. 22, p.185-212

Non-patent Document 4: Journal of Urology, 1999, Vol. 161, p. 332-337

Non-patent Document 5: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology andMetabolism, 1995, Vol. 80, p. 1066-1071

Non-patent Document 6: Clinical Cancer Research, 2004, Vol. 10, p.440-448

Non-patent Document 7: Steroids, 2004, Vol. 69, p. 795-801

Non-patent Document 8: Nature Genetics, 1994, Vol. 7, p. 34-39

Non-patent Document 9: Endocrine Reviews, 2003, Vol. 24, p. 152-182

Non-patent Document 10: The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2002, Vol.277, No. 27, p. 24799-24808

Non-patent Document 11: Carcinogenesis, 2004, Vol. 25, No. 11, p.2177-2181

Non-patent Document 12: Cancer Research, 2004, Vol. 64, p. 1802-1810

Non-patent Document 13: Synthesis, 2000, No. 4, p. 549-556

Non-patent Document 14: Rare Chemicals Catalogue, Rare Chemicals GmbhOrder No. AL BE 0453

Non-patent Document 15: Heterocycles, 1989, Vol. 29, No. 4, p. 783-794

Non-patent Document 16: Journal of Chemical Information and ComputerSciences, 2003, Vol. 43, No. 3, p. 829-836

Non-patent Document 17: Organic Preparations and ProceduresInternational, 2002, Vol. 34, No. 5, p. 511-514

Non-patent Document 18: Cancer Research, 2006, Vol. 66, p. 2815-2825

Non-patent Document 19: Archiv der Pharmazie—Pharmaceutical andMedicinal Chemistry, 1984, Vol. 317, p. 847-851

Non-patent Document 20: Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2006, Vol.248, p. 233-235

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a compound useful as amedicament having selective inhibitory activity against 17βHSD type 5,in particular as a therapeutic agent for benign prostatic hyperplasiaand prostate cancer.

Measures for Solving the Problems

The present inventors have keenly studied about compounds havingselective inhibitory activity against 17βHSD type 5, as a result, foundthat N-sulfonylindole derivatives, where the indole ring is substitutedby a carboxy group, a carboxy-substituted lower alkyl group or acarboxy-substituted lower alkenyl group at its carbon atom, have apotent selective inhibitory activity against 17βHSD type 5 and can be atherapeutic agent and/or a preventive agent for diseases in which 17βHSDtype 5 is involved such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostaticcancer without accompanying adverse drug reactions due to a decrease intestosterone, and completed the present invention.

The present invention relates to a compound represented by generalformula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In formula (I), L represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group;Raaa, which is the same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl,halogen, cyano, lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, loweralkyl-O—, cyano lower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—,aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—,acyl, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl,oxo, nitro, amino, mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylaminoor arylamino, in which the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and theheteroaryl moieties of each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, aryl lower alkyl and arylamino in the Raaa may besubstituted by lower alkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) orhalogen-substituted lower alkyl(s);R¹¹¹, R²²², R³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ represent hydrogen or anappropriate substituent, in which at least one of the R¹¹¹, R²²², R³³³,R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ represents carboxy, carboxy-substituted lower alkylor carboxy-substituted lower alkenyl, and any adjacent two groups ofR³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ together may form a lower alkylene dioxygroup;a double line of a solid line and a dotted line represents a single bondor a double bond; andp represents an integer of 1 to 15.

Further, the present invention relates to a compound represented bygeneral formula (III) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In formula (III), A represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene,—O-lower alkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of thegroups may be substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group;Ra, which is the same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl,halogen, cyano, lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, loweralkyl-O—, cyano lower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—,aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—,acyl, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl,oxo, nitro, amino, mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylaminoor arylamino, in which the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and theheteroaryl moieties of each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, aryl lower alkyl and arylamino in the Ra may besubstituted by lower alkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) orhalogen-substituted lower alkyl(s);R² to R⁶ represent hydrogen or an appropriate substituent, in which atleast one of R² to R⁶ represents carboxy, and any adjacent two groups ofR³ to R⁶ together may form a lower alkylene dioxy group; andn represents an integer of 1 to 15.

Provided that when R² is carboxy, R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is 1-naphthyl, A is a bond and n is 1; Ra is a group other than4-methoxy (namely, other than the known compound 3):when R² is carboxy, and R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; Ra is a group other than hydrogenand 4-methyl (namely, other than the known compounds 1 and 2): and whenn is 2, a combination of two Ra's is selected from combinations ofgroups other than a combination of 4-methyl and 3-nitro and acombination of 3-methoxy and 4-methoxy (namely, other than the knowncompounds 4 and 5):when R³ is carboxy, R², R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; Ra is a group other than 4-methyl(namely, other than the known compound 6):when R⁴ is carboxy, R², R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R³ is 2-bromophenyl,

is 2-thienyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; the Ra is a group other thanhydrogen (namely, other than the known compound 7):when R⁴ is carboxy, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; Ra is a group other than hydrogen(namely, other than the known compound 8):when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is3-methoxycarbonyl-3-hydroxyacryloyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; Ra is a group other than hydrogen(namely, other than the known compound 9):when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is3-carboxy-3-hydroxyacryloyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; Ra is a group other than hydrogen(namely, other than the known compound 10):when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is acetyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; Ra is a group other than hydrogen(namely, other than the known compound 11):when R⁵ is carboxy, R² is methyl, R³, R⁴ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; Ra is a group other than 4-methyl(namely, other than the known compound 12):when R⁵ is carboxy, R², R³, R⁴ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is 8-quinolinyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; Ra is a group other thanhydrogen (namely, other than the known compound 13).

Further, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising the compound represented by formula (I) and/or formula (III).

Further, the present invention relates to a therapeutic agent and/or apreventive agent for a disease associated with 17βHSD type 5 containingthe compound represented by formula (I) and/or formula (III) or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient.

Further, the present invention relates to use of the compoundrepresented by formula (I) and/or formula (III) or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof for producing a medicament for a treatmentand/or prevention of a disease associated with 17βHSD type 5.

Further, the present invention relates to a therapeutic and/orpreventive method for a disease associated with 17βHSD type 5administering an effective amount of the compound represented by formula(I) and/or formula (III) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereofto a patient.

Further, the present invention relates to an inhibitor of 17βHSD type 5containing the compound represented by formula (I) and/or formula (III)or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Further, the present invention relates to a commercial packagecontaining a pharmaceutical composition containing the compoundrepresented by formula (I) and/or formula (III) or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof; and a description that the compound representedby formula (I) and/or formula (III) or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof is capable of being used or should be used for a treatmentand/or prevention of prostatic cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia,acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, baldness, alopecia, precocious puberty,adrenal hypertrophy, polycystic ovary syndrome, breast cancer,endometriosis, lung cancer or leiomyoma.

Further, the present invention relates to a therapeutic agent and/or apreventive agent for a disease associated with 17βHSD type 5 containinga compound represented by general formula (II) or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient.

In formula (II), T represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group;Raa, which is the same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl,halogen, cyano, lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, loweralkyl-O—, cyano lower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—,aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—,acyl, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl,oxo, nitro, amino, mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylaminoor arylamino, in which the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and theheteroaryl moieties of each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, aryl lower alkyl and arylamino in the Raa may besubstituted by lower alkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) orhalogen-substituted lower alkyl(s);R²², R³³, R⁴⁴, R⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶ represent hydrogen or an appropriatesubstituent, in which at least one of R²², R³³, R⁴⁴, R⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶represents carboxy, and any of adjacent two groups of R³³, R⁴⁴, R⁵⁵ andR⁶⁶ together may form a lower alkylene dioxy group; andm represents an integer of 1 to 15.

Further, the present invention relates to use of the compoundrepresented by formula (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof for producing a medicament for a treatment and/or prevention ofa disease associated with 17βHSD type 5.

Further, the present invention relates to a therapeutic and/orpreventive method for a disease associated with 17βHSD type 5administering an effective amount of the compound represented by formula(II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a patient.

Further, the present invention relates to an inhibitor of 17βHSD type 5containing the compound represented by formula (II) or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Further, the present invention relates to a commercial packagecontaining a pharmaceutical composition containing the compoundrepresented by formula (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof; and a description that the compound represented by formula (II)or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is capable of being usedor should be used for a treatment and/or prevention of prostatic cancer,benign prostatic hyperplasia, acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, baldness,alopecia, precocious puberty, adrenal hypertrophy, polycystic ovarysyndrome, breast cancer, endometriosis, lung cancer or leiomyoma.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

The compound of the present invention represented by formula (I) and/orformula (II) and/or formula (III) inhibits 17βHSD type 5 selectively.Accordingly, the compound of the present invention is useful as apreventive and/or therapeutic agent for diseases associated with 17βHSDtype 5, for example, diseases associated with androgen, since androgensynthesis is suppressed by the inhibition of 17βHSD type 5. Examples ofthe diseases associated with androgen include prostatic cancer, benignprostatic hyperplasia, acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, baldness, alopecia,precocious puberty, adrenal hypertrophy, polycystic ovary syndrome,breast cancer, endometriosis and leiomyoma. In addition, since AKR1C3(another name for 17βHSD type 5), which is a subtype of aldo-ketoreductase (AKR), metabolizes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) togenerate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and since single nucleotidepolymorphism (SNP) of AKR1C3 gene relating to oxidation stresscorrelates to a risk of lung cancer, lung cancer is also included in thediseases associated with 17βHSD type 5. The compound of the presentinvention is therefore useful as a therapeutic agent and/or a preventiveagent for these diseases.

In addition, since 17βHSD type 5 is considered to be attributable tointracrine androgen synthesis in prostate, selective inhibitors of17βHSD type 5 are expected to suppress intracrine androgen synthesis inprostate selectively. Accordingly, the compound of the present inventionis particularly useful as a therapeutic agent and/or a preventive agentfor diseases associated with androgen in prostate, that is, prostaticcancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Further, since the compound of the present invention does not influencethe concentrations of testosterone in blood, the compound may be atherapeutic drug and/or preventive drug for benign prostatic hyperplasiaand prostatic cancer without adverse drug reactions such as sexualfunction disorder due to the reduction of the concentrations oftestosterone in blood, and the like.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described in detail below.

The compound of the present invention represented by formula (I) and/orformula (II) and/or formula (III) will be then described in detail.

Various preferred examples of the definitions included in the range ofthe present invention in the description above and below in the presentDescription will be described in detail below.

The term “lower” refers to a group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms,unless otherwise particularly noted:

“Lower alkyl” refers to a linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarboncontaining 1 to 6 carbon atoms. For example, methyl, ethyl, propyl,isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl and the like areincluded.

“Lower alkylene” refers to a divalent group formed by removing ahydrogen atom from “lower alkyl”.

The expression “—O—” used in the definitions refers to a divalent oxygenatom. For example, the expression of lower alkyl-O— represents loweralkoxy. Lower alkoxy refers to a linear or branched aliphatichydrocarbonoxy group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms. For example,methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy, isobutoxy, tert-butoxy,pentoxy, hexoxy and the like are included. In addition, for thedefinition of L in formula (I), it means that the oxygen atom in—O-lower alkylene is a group binding to an S atom in formula (I) andthat the oxygen atom in lower alkylene-O— is a group binding to

in formula (I).

“Aryl” refers to a group formed by an aromatic hydrocarbon ringcontaining 6 to 14 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 10 carbon atoms. Forexample, phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl and the like are included.

“Heterocyclic group” refers to a 5 to 6-membered monocyclicheteroaromatic group containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from O, Nand S, or a 8 to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaromatic groups containing 1to 6 heteroatoms selected from O, N and S, or a 11 to 14-memberedtricyclic heteroaromatic group containing 1 to 8 heteroatoms selectedfrom O, N and S. Preferable examples thereof include 3 to 6-memberedmonocyclic heteroaromatic groups containing 1 to 4 nitrogen atoms, forexample, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl,pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, triazolyl (for example, 4H-1,2,4-triazolyl,1H-1,2,3-triazolyl, 2H-1,2,3-triazolyl and the like), tetrazolyl (forexample, 1H-tetrazolyl, 2H-tetrazolyl and the like) and the like; fusedcyclic heteroaromatic groups containing 1 to 5 nitrogen atoms, forexample, indolyl, isoindolyl, indolizinyl, benzimidazolyl, quinolyl,isoquinolyl, indazolyl, benzotriazolyl, tetrazolopyridazinyl (forexample, tetrazolo[1,5-b]pyridazinyl and the like), quinoxalinyl,imidazopyridyl (for example, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridyl and the like) andothers; 3 to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaromatic groups containing oneoxygen atom, for example, pyranyl, furyl and the like; 3 to 6-memberedmonocyclic heteroaromatic groups containing 1 to 2 sulfur atoms, forexample, thienyl and the like; 3 to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaromaticgroups containing 1 to 2 oxygen atoms and 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms, forexample, oxazolyl, isooxazolyl, oxadiazolyl (for example,1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl and the like)and others; fused cyclic heteroaromatic groups containing 1 to 2 oxygenatoms and 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms, for example, benzofurazanyl,benzoxazolyl, benzoxadiazolyl and the like; 3 to 6-membered monocyclicheteroaromatic groups containing 1 to 2 sulfur atoms and 1 to 3 nitrogenatoms, for example, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl (for example,1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,5-thiadiazolyl and the like)and others; fused cyclic heteroaromatic groups containing 1 to 2 sulfuratoms and 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms, for example, benzothiazolyl,benzothiadiazolyl, imidazothiazolyl (for example,imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazolyl and the like) and others; fused cyclicheteroaromatic groups containing 1 to 2 oxygen atoms, for example,benzofuranyl, dibenzo[b,d]furanyl and the like; fused cyclicheteroaromatic groups containing 1 to 2 sulfur atoms, for example,benzothienyl and the like; and others.

“Heterocyclic group” further refers to a 3 to 10-membered saturated orunsaturated cyclic group containing 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from O,N and S, and preferable examples thereof include 3 to 7-memberedsaturated or unsaturated heteromonocyclic groups containing 1 to 4nitrogen atoms, for example, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolidinyl,piperidyl, piperazinyl, homopiperazinyl and the like; 3 to 10-memberedsaturated or unsaturated bicyclic heterocyclic groups containing 1 to 4nitrogen atoms, for example, quinuclidinyl and the like; 3 to 6-memberedsaturated heteromonocyclic groups containing one oxygen atom, forexample, 1H-tetrahydropyranyl, tetrahydrofuranyl and the like; 3 to6-membered saturated or unsaturated heteromonocyclic groups containing 1to 2 oxygen atoms and 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms, for example, morpholinyl,oxazolinyl (for example, 2-oxazolinyl and the like) and others; 3 to6-membered saturated or unsaturated heteromonocyclic groups containing 1to 2 sulfur atoms and 1 to 3 nitrogen atoms, for example, thiazolidinyland others; and the like. “Heterocyclic group” further refers to aheterocyclic group in which an aryl group or a heteroaryl group is fusedto a 3 to 10-membered saturated or unsaturated heterocyclic groupcontaining 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from O, N and S, and examplesthereof includes isocromanyl, cromanyl, isoindolinyl, indolinyl,3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazinyl, dihydrobenzofuranyl,2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxyzinyl and the like.

“Heteroaryl” refers to a group included in the “heterocyclic group” andhaving an aromaticity.

“Cycloalkyl” refers to a saturated hydrocarbon ring group containing 3to 10 carbon atoms. For example, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl,cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, norbornyl, adamantyl and the like are included.

“Halogen” includes a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom andan iodine atom and is preferably a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom or abromine atom.

“Heteroaryl lower alkyl” refers to a lower alkyl substituted by theheteroaryl(s) described above, and includes, for example, thiazolyllower alkyl (for example, thiazolylmethyl and the like) and others.

“Halogen-substituted lower alkyl” refers to a lower alkyl substituted byhalogen atom(s). For example, fluoromethyl, chloromethyl,difluoromethyl, dichloromethyl, dibromomethyl, trifluoromethyl,trichloromethyl, fluoroethyl, chloroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl,2,2,2-trichloroethyl, 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoroethyl, fluoropropyl,fluorobutyl, fluorohexyl and the like are included.

“Lower alkenyl” refers to an unsaturated linear or branched noncyclichydrocarbon containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms and having at least onedouble bond. The number of carbon atoms is preferably 2 to 6. Forexample, vinyl, propenyl, butenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl and the like areincluded.

“Lower alkenylene” refers to a divalent group formed by removing ahydrogen atom from “lower alkenyl”.

Examples of “acyl group” include carboxy; esterified carboxy; carbamoylsubstituted by lower alkyl(s), aryl(s), aryl lower alkyl(s),arylsulfonyl(s), heterocyclic group-substituted sulfonyl(s), loweralkylsulfonyl(s) or heterocyclic group(s); substituted or unsubstitutedarylsulfonyl; sulfonyl substituted by a heterocyclic group; loweralkylsulfonyl; cycloalkylcarbonyl; lower alkanoyl; substituted orunsubstituted aroyl; carbonyl substituted by a heterocyclic group, andthe like.

Examples of the esterified carboxy group include substituted orunsubstituted lower alkyl-O—C(═O)— (for example, methoxycarbonyl,ethoxycarbonyl, propoxycarbonyl, butoxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl,hexyloxycarbonyl, 2-iodoethoxycarbonyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyland the like), substituted or unsubstituted aryl-O—C(═O)— (for example,phenoxycarbonyl, 4-nitrophenoxycarbonyl, 2-naphthyloxycarbonyl and thelike), substituted or unsubstituted aryl lower alkyl-O—C(═O)— (forexample, benzyloxycarbonyl, phenethyloxycarbonyl, benzhydryloxycarbonyl,4-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl and the like) and others.

Examples of the lower alkyl-substituted carbamoyl group includemethylcarbamoyl, ethylcarbamoyl, propylcarbamoyl, dimethylcarbamoyl,diethylcarbamoyl, methylethylcarbamoyl and the like.

Examples of the aryl-substituted carbamoyl group includephenylcarbamoyl, naphthylcarbamoyl, lower alkyl-substitutedphenylcarbamoyl (for example, tolylcarbamoyl, xylylcarbamoyl and thelike) and others.

Examples of the aryl lower alkyl-substituted carbamoyl group includebenzylcarbamoyl, phenethylcarbamoyl, phenylpropylcarbamoyl and the like.

Examples of the arylsulfonyl-substituted carbamoyl group includephenylsulfonylcarbamoyl, tolylsulfonylcarbamoyl and the like.

Examples of the (heterocyclic group-substituted sulfonyl)-substitutedcarbamoyl include pyridylsulfonylcarbamoyl and the like.

Examples of the lower alkylsulfonyl-substituted carbamoyl group includemethylsulfonylcarbamoyl, ethylsulfonylcarbamoyl and the like.

Examples of the substituted or unsubstituted arylsulfonyl group includephenylsulfonyl, tolylsulfonyl, halophenylsulfonyl (for example,fluorophenylsulfonyl and the like) and others.

Examples of the heterocyclesulfonyl group include pyrrolidinylsulfonyland the like.

Examples of the lower alkylsulfonyl group include methylsulfonyl,ethylsulfonyl and the like.

Examples of the cycloalkylcarbonyl group include cyclopropylcarbonyl,cyclobutylcarbonyl, cyclopentylcarbonyl or cyclohexylcarbonyl and thelike.

Examples of the lower alkanoyl group include formyl, acetyl, propionyl,butyryl, isobutyryl, valeryl, isovaleryl, pivaloyl, hexanoyl and thelike.

Examples of the substituted or unsubstituted aroyl group includebenzoyl, naphtoyl, toluoyl, di(tert-butyl)benzoyl, halogen-substitutedlower alkyl-O-benzoyl (for example, trifluoromethoxybenzoyl and thelike) and others.

The heterocyclic group moiety of the “heterocyclic group-substitutedcarbonyl” refers to the “heterocyclic group” described above. Forexample, pyridylcarbonyl and the like are included.

“Mono-lower alkylamino” refers to an amino group substituted by a “loweralkyl” group described above. For example, methylamino, ethylamino,propylamino, isopropylamino, butylamino, isobutylamino, pentylamino,hexylamino and the like are included.

“Di-lower alkylamino” refers to an amino group substituted by two sameor different “lower alkyl” groups described above. For example,dimethylamino, diethylamino, dipropylamino, diisopropylamino,dibutylamino, diisobutylamino, dipentylamino, dihexylamino,ethylmethylamino, methylpropylamino, butylmethylamino, ethylpropylamino,butylethylamino and the like are included.

Examples of “lower alkylenedioxy group” include methylenedioxy group,ethylenedioxy group and the like.

Examples of “appropriate substituent” include lower alkyl, halogen,cyano, lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—,cyano lower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl,heteroaryl, aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl,heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, nitro, amino, hydroxy,mercapto, mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino,arylamino, carboxy and the like.

Although “aryl”, “heteroaryl”, “cycloalkyl”, “heterocycle”, “phenyl”,“naphthyl”, “benzothiazolyl”, “cyclohexyl” and the like are described asmonovalent groups in the present Description for convenience, they maybe multivalent groups of divalent or higher according to theirstructures. The present invention encompasses these structures. Forexample, although groups exemplified for

in formula (III) are described as monovalent groups for convenience,they are actually multivalent groups of divalent or higher. Specificaspects of the divalent group correspond to those having the suffix ofthe above ring groups converted into diyl in accordance with theNomenclature of Organic Chemistry. For example, a divalent groupcorresponding to a phenyl group that is a monovalent group is aphenylene group. A divalent group corresponding to a benzothiazolylgroup as a monovalent group is benzothiazolediyl.

A preferred aspect of the compound of formula (I) above as the compoundof the present invention is compounds represented by the formula (II)and/or formula (III) above. Accordingly, all the compounds representedby formula (II) and/or formula (III) above are included in the compoundsrepresented by formula (I) above. Further a preferred aspect of thecompound of formula (II) above is compounds represented by formula (III)above. Preferred aspects of the compounds of formula (III) are shownbelow.

(1) A is lower alkylene which may be substituted by phenyl(s), loweralkylene-O— which may be substituted by phenyl(s), lower alkenylene or abond, more preferably lower alkenylene or a bond, most preferably abond.

(2)

is phenyl, naphthyl, benzothiazolyl, dibenzo[b,d]furanyl, thienyl,pyrazolyl, benzothienyl, imidazolyl, pyridyl, 2,1,3,-benzothiadiazolyl,isoquinolyl, cyclopropyl, cyclohexyl or 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazinyl,preferably phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl or isoquinolyl, more preferablyphenyl or naphthyl, most preferably phenyl.

(3) Ra, which is the same or different, is hydrogen, lower alkyl,halogen, cyano, lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, loweralkyl-O—, cyano lower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—,phenyl, oxadiazolyl, phenoxy, pyridyloxy, pyridylcarbonyl,pyrrolidinylsulfonyl, thiazolyl lower alkyl-O—, lower alkylsulfonyl,nitro or di-lower alkylamino, in which the phenyl and oxadiazolyl andthe phenyl, pyridyl and thiazolyl moieties of each of the phenoxy,pyridyloxy, pyridylcarbonyl and thiazolyl lower alkyl-O— may besubstituted by lower alkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s) or halogen(s); morepreferably, Ra, which is the same or different, is hydrogen, loweralkyl, halogen, cyano, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—,halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O— or lower alkylsulfonyl, mostpreferably Ra, which is the same or different, is hydrogen or halogen.

(4) R² to R⁶ are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, benzyloxy,hydroxy, halogen, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, carboxy, or a loweralkylene dioxy group formed from any adjacent two groups of R³ to R⁶, inwhich at least one of R² to R⁶ is carboxy; more preferably, R² to R⁶ arehydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, benzyloxy, hydroxy, halogen,halogen-substituted lower alkyl, carboxy, or a lower alkylene dioxygroup formed from any adjacent two groups of R³ to R⁶, provided eitherone of R² or R⁵ is carboxy; more preferably, R² is carboxy, and R³ to R⁶are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, benzyloxy, hydroxy, halogen,halogen-substituted lower alkyl, or a lower alkylene dioxy group formedfrom any adjacent two groups; most preferably, R² is carboxy, and R³ toR⁶ are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O— or halogen.

(5) n is preferably an integer of 1 to 3.

Particularly preferred aspects of the compound of formula (III) are, forexample, compounds composed of each preferred group described in (1) to(5) above in combination. Specifically, they are compounds composed of acombination described in (A1) to (A11) described below.

(A1) A compound wherein A is lower alkylene which may be substituted byphenyl(s), lower alkylene-O— which may be substituted by phenyl(s),lower alkenylene or a bond;

is phenyl, naphthyl, benzothiazolyl, dibenzo[b,d]furanyl, thienyl,pyrazolyl, benzothienyl, imidazolyl, pyridyl, 2,1,3,-benzothiadiazolyl,isoquinolyl, cyclopropyl, cyclohexyl or 3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazinyl,and Ra, which is the same or different, is hydrogen, lower alkyl,halogen, cyano, lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, loweralkyl-O—, cyano lower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—,phenyl, oxadiazolyl, phenoxy, pyridyloxy, pyridylcarbonyl,pyrrolidinylsulfonyl, thiazolyl lower alkyl-O—, lower alkylsulfonyl,nitro or di-lower alkylamino, in which the phenyl and oxadiazolyl andthe phenyl, pyridyl and thiazolyl moieties of each of the phenoxy,pyridyloxy, pyridylcarbonyl and thiazolyl lower alkyl-O— may besubstituted by lower alkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s) or halogen(s); R² to R⁶are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, benzyloxy, hydroxy, halogen,halogen-substituted lower alkyl, carboxy, or a lower alkylene dioxygroup formed from any adjacent two groups of R³ to R⁶, in which at leastone of R² to R⁶ is carboxy, and n is an integer of 1 to 3.

(A2) The compound described in (A1), wherein either one of R² or R⁵ isnecessarily carboxy.

(A3) The compound described in (A2) above, wherein A is lower alkenyleneor a bond,

is phenyl, naphthyl, pyridyl or isoquinolyl, R² is carboxy, Ra, which isthe same or different, is hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, halogen-substitutedlower alkyl-O— or lower alkylsulfonyl, R³ to R⁶ are hydrogen, loweralkyl, lower alkyl-O—, benzyloxy, hydroxy, halogen, halogen-substitutedlower alkyl, or a lower alkylene dioxy group formed from any adjacenttwo groups of R³ to R⁶.

(A4) The compound described in (A3) above, wherein A is a bond,

is phenyl, Ra, which is the same or different, is hydrogen or halogen,R³ to R⁶ are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O— or halogen.

(A5) The compound described in (A4) above, wherein Ra is halogen.

(A6) The compound described in (A5) above, wherein R³ to R⁵ are hydrogenand R⁶ is halogen.

(A7) The compound described in (A4) above, which is

-   1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid,-   4-methoxy-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid,-   5-methyl-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid,-   5-fluoro-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid,-   7-fluoro-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid,-   1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-7-chloro-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid,-   7-chloro-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid or-   5-chloro-1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid.

(A8) The compound described in (A1) above, wherein A is a bond,

is phenyl or naphthyl, Ra, which is the same or different, is hydrogen,lower alkyl, halogen, cyano, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, loweralkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O— or lower alkylsulfonyl, R³is carboxy, R² and R⁴ to R⁶ are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—,benzyloxy, hydroxy, halogen or halogen-substituted lower alkyl.

(A9) The compound described in (A1) above, wherein A is a bond,

is phenyl or naphthyl, Ra, which is the same or different, is hydrogen,lower alkyl, halogen, cyano, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, loweralkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O— or lower alkylsulfonyl, R⁴is carboxy, R² to R³ and R⁵ to R⁶ are hydrogen, lower alkyl, loweralkyl-O—, benzyloxy, hydroxy, halogen or halogen-substituted loweralkyl.

(A10) The compound described in (A1) above, wherein A is a bond,

is phenyl or naphthyl, Ra, which is the same or different, is hydrogen,lower alkyl, halogen, cyano, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, loweralkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O— or lower alkylsulfonyl, R⁵is carboxy, R² to R⁴ and R⁶ are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—,benzyloxy, hydroxy, halogen or halogen-substituted lower alkyl.

(A11) The compound described in (A1) above, wherein A is a bond,

is phenyl or naphthyl, Ra, which is the same or different, is hydrogen,lower alkyl, halogen, cyano, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, loweralkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O— or lower alkylsulfonyl, R⁶is carboxy, R² to R⁵ are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—,benzyloxy, hydroxy, halogen or halogen-substituted lower alkyl.

Other preferred aspects of the compound of formula (I), the compound ofthe present invention, are described below.

(B1) A compound, wherein L is a bond,

is phenyl or naphthyl, R²²² is carboxy, Raaa, which is the same ordifferent, is hydrogen or halogen, R¹¹¹, R³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ arehydrogen, a double line of a solid line and a dotted line is a singlebond, and p is an integer of 1 to 3.

(B2) A compound, wherein L is a bond,

is phenyl, Raaa, which is the same or different, is hydrogen or halogen,R¹¹¹ is carboxy-substituted lower alkyl or carboxy-substituted loweralkenyl, R²²², R³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ are hydrogen, a double line ofa solid line and a dotted line is a double bond, and p is an integer of1 to 3.

(B3) A compound, wherein L is a bond,

is phenyl, Raaa, which is the same or different, is hydrogen or halogen,R⁴⁴⁴ is carboxy-substituted lower alkyl or carboxy-substituted loweralkenyl, R¹¹¹, R²²², R³³³, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ are hydrogen, a double line ofa solid line and a dotted line is a double bond and p is an integer of 1to 3.

Examples of groups that form prodrugs of the compound of the presentinvention include the groups described in Prog. Med. 5: 2157-2161(1985), the groups described in “Pharmaceutical Research andDevelopment”, Vol. 7, Drug Design, p. 163-198, 1990, Hirokawa PublishingCo., and the like. Especially, derivatives of the compound of thepresent invention in which a free carboxy group is converted into anamide or ester can be metabolized in vivo to be converted into thecompound of the general formula (I) and/or (II) and/or (III), and theseare considered to be the prodrugs of the present invention. Theseprodrugs are included in the present invention.

The compound of the present invention represented by formula (I) and/orformula (II) and/or formula (III) may have one or more asymmetriccenters and may be present as enantiomers or diastereomers in this case.The present invention includes both of the mixture of isomers and theindividual isomers separated.

The compound of the present invention represented by formula (I) and/orformula (II) and/or formula (III) may be present as tautomers, and thepresent invention includes both of the mixture of tautomers and theindividual tautomers separated.

The compound of the present invention represented by formula (I) and/orformula (II) and/or formula (III) may be present as geometric isomers,and the present invention includes both of the mixture of geometricisomers and the individual geometric isomers separated.

The compound of the present invention represented by formula (I) and/orformula (II) and/or formula (III) may be converted into a salt thereofby an ordinary method. Preferred salts of the compound represented byformula (I) and/or formula (II) and/or formula (III) arepharmaceutically acceptable salts, and examples thereof include metalsalts such as alkali metal salts (for example, sodium salt, potassiumsalt and the like), alkaline earth metal salts (for example, calciumsalt, magnesium salt and the like), ammonium salt, organic base salts(for example, trimethylamine salt, triethylamine salt, pyridine salt,picoline salt, dicyclohexylamine salt and the like), organic acid salts(acetate, malonate, tartrate, methanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate,formate, toluenesulfonate, trifluoroacetate and the like), inorganicacid salts (hydrochloride, hydrobromide, sulfate, phosphate and thelike), amino acid salts (alginate, aspartate, glutamate and the like)and others. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses all of theindole derivatives represented by formula (I) and/or formula (II) and/orformula (III) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

The compound of formula (I) and/or formula (II) and/or formula (III) mayform hydrates and various pharmaceutically acceptable solvates. Thesehydrates and solvates are also included in the present invention.

The present invention also encompasses radiolabeled derivatives of thecompound of formula (I) and/or formula (II) and/or formula (III) thatare useful for biological research.

(General Production Method)

The compound (I) and/or (II) and/or (III) as an active ingredient of thepresent invention can be produced by utilizing the characteristics basedon the types of skeleton or substituent and by applying various knownsynthetic methods. It is sometimes effective, in terms of productiontechniques, that the functional group is protected by an appropriateprotecting group or replaced by a group that can be readily convertedinto the functional group in the stage of a raw material to intermediatedepending on the type of the functional group during the production.Examples of such functional group include an amino group, a hydroxygroup, a carboxyl group and the like, and examples of such protectinggroup thereof include protecting groups described in “Protective Groupsin Organic Synthesis”, 3rd ed., 1999, T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts.These protecting groups may be appropriately selected and used,depending on the reaction conditions. By these methods, a desiredcompound can be obtained by introducing a protecting group, performing areaction, and then removing the protecting group or converted theprotecting group into a desired group, as required.

Further, a prodrug of the compound (I) and/or (II) and/or (III) or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof can be produced by introducinga specific group, as in the protecting group above, in the stage of araw material or intermediate to performing a reaction using a compound(I) and/or (II) and/or (III) obtained. The reaction can be performed byapplying the methods known to the person skilled in the art, such asordinary esterification, amidation and acylation.

(First Production Method)

According to the first production method, the compound of the presentinvention (III) is produced by a sulfonamide condensation reaction usinga compound (IV) and/or compound (V). The compound of the presentinvention (I) and/or (II) can also be produced by a similar method.

Production can be performed by reacting a compound represented bygeneral formula (IV) below:

(wherein, Rb² to Rb⁶ represent hydrogen or an appropriate substituent,in which at least one of Rb² to Rb⁶ represents a carboxy group that maybe protected, and any adjacent two groups of Rb³ to Rb⁶ together mayform a lower alkylene dioxy group) and a sulfonic acid or a reactivederivative thereof represented by general formula (V) below:

(wherein A, X, Ra and n are defined in formula (III) above). Examples ofthe reactive derivative of sulfonic acid include reactive derivativesgenerally used, such as sulfonyl halides and sulfonic anhydride, andsulfonyl halides are particularly preferred.

The solvent used in this reaction is not particularly limited, as longas the solvent does not inhibit the reaction and dissolves the startingmaterials in a certain level, and the solvent may be, for example,aliphatic hydrocarbons such as hexane, cyclohexane, heptane, ligroin orpetroleum ether; aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene orxylene; halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, chloroform,carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, chlorobenzene ordichlorobenzene; ethers such as diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether,tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, dimethoxyethane, diethylene glycol dimethylether, tert-butyl methyl ether or cyclopentyl methyl ether; nitrocompounds such as nitromethane; nitriles such as acetonitrile orisobutyronitrile; amides such as formamide, N,N-dimethylformamide,N,N-dimethylacetamide or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone; or sulfoxides such asdimethyl sulfoxide or sulfolane, and is preferably ethers and amides,particularly preferably tetrahydrofuran.

The base used in this reaction may be, for example, alkali metalcarbonates such as sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate or lithiumcarbonate; alkali metal hydrogen carbonates such as sodium hydrogencarbonate, potassium hydrogen carbonate or lithium hydrogen carbonate;alkali metal acetates such as sodium acetate; alkali metal hydrides suchas lithium hydride, sodium hydride or potassium hydride; alkali metalhydroxides such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or lithiumhydroxide; alkali metal alkoxides such as sodium methoxide, sodiumethoxide, potassium tert-butoxide or lithium methoxide; organic basessuch as triethylamine, tributylamine, diisopropylethylamine,N-methylmorpholine, pyridine, 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine,N,N-dimethylaniline, N,N-diethylaniline,1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO)or 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU); alkyllithiums such asmethyllithium, ethyllithium or n-butyllithium; or lithium alkylamidessuch as lithium diisopropylamide or lithium dicyclohexylamide, and ispreferably alkali metal hydrides (in particular, lithium hydride orsodium hydride), metal alkoxides (in particular, sodium methoxide,potassium tert-butoxide) or alkyllithiums (in particular,n-butyllithium).

The reaction temperature of this reaction is generally −78° C. to 100°C., preferably −78° C. to 50° C., depending on the raw materialcompounds, reagents and the like.

The reaction time of this reaction is generally 5 minutes to 24 hours,preferably 10 minutes to 12 hours, depending on the raw materialcompounds, reagents and the reaction temperature.

When at least one of Rb² to Rb⁶ represents a protected carboxy group inthe formula (IV) above, the compound (III) of the present invention canbe obtained by deprotecting the protecting group after the reactionabove.

Preferable protecting groups for the carboxy group in the “carboxy whichmay be protected” and deprotection methods therefor are described in“Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis” (3rd Edition, T. W. Greene andP. G. M. Wuts, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), and the like, and the entiredescription thereof is herein incorporated. Examples of the protectinggroup for a carboxy group include esters, amides, ortho-esters and thelike. The deprotection method therefor can be performed in accordancewith conventional methods, for example, hydrolysis, reduction and thelike.

(Second Production Method)

The compound of the present invention (I) and/or (II) and/or (III)having various functional group(s) can also be produced by methods perse well known to the person skilled in the art or known methods, orvariations thereof. For example, a desired compound can be produced by areaction forming an indole ring or subjecting a compound obtained by theproduction method described above to a substituent-modificationreaction. Representative reactions are shown below.

(1) Indole Cyclization Reaction

The compound (I) and/or (II) and/or (III) can be produced using abenzene derivative having a nitro group as a raw material by a reactionforming an indole ring. It can be performed, for example, referring tothe method described in Tetrahedron Letters 1989, 30 (16), 2129-2132.

(2) Oxidation

The compound (I) and/or (II) and/or (III) having a carboxyl group, asulfonyl group or a sulfenyl group can be produced from a compoundhaving an aldehyde group or a sulfide group by an oxidation reaction.The reaction can be performed referring, for example, to the methodsdescribed in Heterocycles 1987, 26(5), 1173-1176, “ExperimentalChemistry Series”, the Chemical Society of Japan ed., Maruzen, vol. 23,4th ed., 1992 and vol. 17, 5th. ed., 2005 or the “Compendium of OrganicSynthetic Methods” described above, vols. 1 to 3, and the like.

(3) Alkylation

The compound (I) and/or (II) and/or (III) having a lower alkoxy group ora lower alkylamino group can be produced by subjecting a compound havinga hydroxy group or an amino group to an alkylation reaction. Forexample, the reaction can be performed by the methods described in“Experimental Chemistry Series”, the Chemical Society of Japan ed.,Maruzen, vol. 20, 4th ed., 1992 and vol. 14, 5th ed., 2005, the“Compendium of Organic Synthetic Methods” described above, vols. 1 to 3,or the like.

(4) Amination and Alkoxylation Reactions by Substitution Reaction

The compounds (I) and/or (II) and/or (III) having a lower alkoxy groupor a lower alkylamino group can also be produced by substituting acompound having halogen with a corresponding alcohol or amine compoundin a basic condition. For the reaction, the reaction conditionsdescribed in “Experimental Chemistry Series”, the Chemical Society ofJapan ed., Maruzen, vol. 20, 4th ed., 1992 and vol. 14, 5th ed., 2005,may be appropriately selected for use.

(5) Amidation and Esterification

The compound (I) and/or (II) and/or (III) having an amide group or anester group can be produced by reacting a compound having an amino groupor a hydroxy group as a raw material with a carboxylic acid or areactive derivative thereof. The reaction can be performed referring,for example, to the methods described in “Experimental ChemistrySeries”, the Chemical Society of Japan ed., Maruzen, vol. 22, 4th ed.,1992 and vol. 16, 5th ed., 2005, the “Compendium of Organic SyntheticMethods” described above, vols. 1 to 3, or the like.

(6) Others

The compound (I) and/or (II) and/or (III) having an α,β-unsaturatedcarboxyl group can be produced by a method using Wittig reaction orHorner-Emmons reaction of a compound having an aldehyde group followedby hydrolysis of the ester or by Knoevenagel reaction. The productioncan be conducted referring, for example, to the method described in“Experimental Chemistry Series”, the Chemical Society of Japan ed.,Maruzen, vol. 19, 4th ed., 1992 and vol. 13, 5th ed., 2005,“Comprehensive Organic Synthesis”, vol. 2, Pergamon Press, 1991, or thelike.

(Production Method for Raw Material Compound)

Of the raw material compounds for the First Production Method above, theraw material compound (IV) in which Rb² is carboxy can be produced inaccordance with a method (1) in which carboxylic acid is introduced inone step, for example, the method described in Bioorganic and MedicinalChemistry Letters 2005, 15, 2734-2737; a method (2) in which oxidationreaction is performed after introduction of an aldehyde group, forexample, the method described in Journal of the Chemical Society 1954,3842-3845 and Heterocycles 1987, 26(5), 1173-1176; a method (3) in whichan ester is hydrolyzed; and the like.

In production of the raw material compounds for the First ProductionMethod and/or Second Production Method above, the substitution methodcan be performed referring to the method described in “ExperimentalChemistry Series”, the Chemical Society of Japan ed., Maruzen, vol. 23,4th ed., 1992 and the like, hydrolysis to the method described in“Experimental Chemistry Series”, the Chemical Society of Japan ed.,Maruzen, vol. 22, 4th ed., 1992 and the like, and deprotection to themethod in “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis”, 3rd ed., 1999described above.

The compound (I) and/or (II) and/or (III) thus produced can be isolatedand purified in its free form or as a salt thereof by a general saltformation reaction. Isolation and purification are conducted applyinggeneral chemical operations such as extraction, concentration,distillation, crystallization, filtration, recrystallization, variouschromatographic operations and the like.

Various isomers can be isolated by an ordinary method utilizing thedifferences in physicochemical properties among the isomers. Forexample, optical isomers can be isolated and purified by a method inwhich a racemic compound is converted to a diasteromer salt with anoptically active organic acid (tartaric acid and the like) followed byfractional crystallization, or by a technique in which columnchromatography using a chiral column and the like. In addition, anoptically active compound may also be produced using a suitableoptically active compound as a raw material. Here, a mixture ofdiasteromers can be separated by fractional crystallization orchromatography and the like.

EXAMPLE

The production methods for compounds included in the compound (I) and/or(II) and/or (III) as an active ingredient of the present invention willbe described below as Examples. Production methods for the novelcompounds used as raw materials will be described as ProductionExamples. The production methods for the compound (I) and/or (II) and/or(III) are not limited to the production methods in specific Examplesshown below and the compound of the present invention can be produced bya combination of these production methods or known production methods.

The following abbreviations are used in Production Examples, Examplesand Tables below.

Ex: Example No., REx: Production Example No., Data: physicochemical data(FAB+: FAB-MS (M+H)⁺, FAB−: FAB-MS (M−H)⁻, ESI+: ESI-MS (M+H)⁺, ESI−:ESI-MS (M−H)⁻, API+: API-ES-MS (M+H)⁺, EI: EI-MS (M)⁺, NMR-DMSO-d6: δ(ppm) of characteristic peak(s) in ¹H NMR in DMSO-d₆), Str: Structuralformula, DME: dimethoxyethane, DMF: N,N-dimethylformamide, DMSO:dimethyl sulfoxide, THF: tetrahydrofuran, MeCN: acetonitrile, MeOH:methanol, tBuOH: t-butyl alcohol, n-BuLi: n-butyllithium, RT: retentiontime (minutes) in HPLC, Ps: position of substitution with —COOH.

Production Example 1

To a solution of 3.0 g of 7-ethylindole in 25 mL of DMF, 3.5 mL oftrifluoroacetic anhydride was added under ice cooling and the resultingmixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. To the solution,100 mL of water was added, and the precipitated solid was collected byfiltration. The solid thus obtained was suspended in 100 mL of 5 Maqueous sodium hydroxide solution and the resulting suspension wasstirred at 100° C. for 5 hours. After the solution was allowed to cool,it was washed twice with 30 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane. Concentratedhydrochloric acid was added to the aqueous layer to adjust the pH to pH2and the precipitated solid was collected by filtration and washed withether to obtain 3.14 g of 7-ethylindole-3-carboxylic acid as a beigesolid.

The compounds listed in Table 1 were obtained by the method similar tothat described in Production Example 1.

TABLE 1 REx Str Data 1

FAB−: 188 2

FAB+: 204 3

EI: 203 4

EI: 189 5

FAB−: 208

Production Example 6

To 4.5 mL of DMF cooled in an ice-salt bath, 1.3 mL of phosphorusoxychloride was added, and the resulting mixture was stirred for 30minutes. A solution of 2.13 g of 7-chloro-4-methyl-1H-indole in 3 mL ofDMF was added to the solution under cooling and the resulting mixturewas stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes and at 35° C. for 1 hour.After the solution was allowed to cool, 20 g of ice and 15 mL of 10 Maqueous sodium hydroxide solution were added, the resulting mixture washeated to 100° C., then allowed to cool to room temperature, and stirredunder ice cooling for 30 minutes, and the precipitated solid wascollected by filtration. To a solution of the solid obtained in 15 mL ofMeCN and 50 mL of t-BuOH, 14 mL of 2-methyl-2-butene and 3.1 g of sodiumdihydrogen phosphate were added, and a mixture of 9.3 g of sodiumchlorite and 15 mL of water were further added, and the resultingmixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 days. To the solution, 100mL of toluene and 50 mL water were added, and the mixture was extractedtwice with 50 mL of 0.5 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution.Concentrated hydrochloric acid was added to the extract to adjust the pHto pH3, the precipitated solid was collected by filtration, and theobtained solid was purified by silica gel column chromatography(chloroform-methanol=100:1→50:1→20:1) to obtain 0.79 g of7-chloro-4-methyl-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid as a beige solid.

The compounds listed in Table 2 were obtained by the method similar tothat described in Production Example 6.

TABLE 2 REx Str Data 6

EI: 209 7

EI: 181 8

EI: 227 9

FAB−: 246

Production Example 10

To a solution of 1.01 g of methyl5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylate in 12 mL of MeOH and 12 mLof THF, 6 mL of 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added, and theresulting mixture was stirred at 80° C. overnight. To the solution, 3 mLof 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was further added, and theresulting mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 6 hours. To the solution, 9mL of 1 M hydrochloric acid and 60 mL of water were added, theprecipitated solid was collected by filtration, and the solid obtainedwas purified by silica gel column chromatography(chloroform-methanol=100:1→50:1→20:1) and then washed with hexane toobtain 0.71 g of 5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid as acream-colored solid. FAB−: 228

Production Example 11

A solution of 5.21 g of 1-chloro-4-methyl-2-nitrobenzene in 150 mL ofTHF was cooled to −50° C. To the solution was added 95 mL of 1 Mvinylmagnesium bromide solution in THF while the inner temperature waskept at −30° C. or lower, and the resulting mixture was stirred at −50°C. for 2 hours. To the solution, 100 mL of the saturated aqueousammonium chloride solution and 100 mL of 1 M hydrochloric acid wereadded, then the resulting mixture was warmed to room temperature andstirred for 15 minutes, and then extracted twice with 100 mL of ethylacetate. The extract was washed with water and saturated aqueous sodiumchloride solution and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and then thesolvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purifiedby silica gel column chromatography (ethyl acetate-hexane=1:9) to obtain2.69 g of 7-chloro-4-methylindole as a brown oil.

Compounds listed in Table 3 were obtained by the method similar to thatdescribed in Production Example 11.

TABLE 3 REx Str Data 11

EI: 165 12

EI: 181 13

EI: 183 14

EI: 202

The following Examples are described to explain the present invention inmore detail, and the present invention will not restricted by thefollowing Examples. Although the present invention is fully explained byway of the Examples, the person skilled in the art will appreciate thatvarious alterations and modifications can naturally be made.Accordingly, these alterations and modifications are included in thepresent invention unless they depart from the scope of the presentinvention.

Example 1

4.8 mg of indole-3-carboxylic acid was dissolved in 1 mL oftetrahydrofuran, 0.042 mL of n-butyllithium (1.58 M hexane solution) wasadded to the solution at 0° C., the resulting mixture was stirred for 30minutes. Then 5.3 mg of benzenesulfonyl chloride was added to themixture, and the resulting mixture was stirred at 0° C. overnight. Waterand chloroform were added to the mixture, the organic layer wasseparated and concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residue waspurified by HPLC to obtain 1.0 mg of1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid.

The HPLC conditions used for the purification will be described below.

Column: SunFire (registered trademark)Particle size: 5 μm, Inner diameter: 19 mm, Length: 100 mmMobile phase:

-   -   Solution A (=A sol), methanol    -   Solution B (=B sol), 0.1% aqueous formic acid solution

TABLE 4 Time (min) A sol (%) B sol (%) 0-1 10 90 1-9 10→95 90→5  9-12 95 5Flow rate: 25 mL/minColumn temperature: 20° C.Injection volume: 800 μL

Example Compounds listed in Tables 6 to 22 below were obtained by themethod similar to that described in Example 1. The conditions of HPLCperformed for the determination of RT in Examples 1 to 132 are shownbelow.

Column: Wakosil-II 5C18AR (registered trademark)Particle size: 5 μm, Inner diameter: 2.0 mm, Length: 30 mmMobile phase:

-   -   Solution A (=A sol), 5 mM aqueous trifluoroacetic acid solution    -   Solution B (=B sol), methanol

TABLE 5 Time (min) A sol (%) B sol (%) 0-4 90→0 10→100   4-4.5 0 100Flow rate: 1.2 mL/minDetection wavelength: 254 nmColumn temperature: 35.0° C.Injection volume: 5 μL

TABLE 6

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 1 3

2.6 302 2 3

2.74 316 3 3

2.8 316 4 3

2.8 316 5 3

2.59 320 6 3

2.75 320 7 3

2.67 320 8 3

2.37 327

TABLE 7

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 9 3

2.92 328 10 3

2.98 330 11 3

3   330 12 3

2.77 332 13 3

2.58 332 14 3

2.9  336 15 3

2.65 336 16 3

2.95 336

TABLE 8

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 17 3

2.64 338 18 3

2.83 338 19 3

3.13 344 20 3

3.34 358 21 3

3.03 360 22 3

3.03 370 23 3

3.21 370 24 3

2.52 371

TABLE 9

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 25 3

3.22 378 26 3

3.25 378 27 3

2.95 378 28 3

2.95 380 29 3

3.07 386 30 3

3.42 392 31 3

3.23 394 32 3

3.23 394

TABLE 10

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 33 3

2.94 394 34 3

2.79 407 35 3

3.39 408 36 3

3.33 408 37 3

3.38 408 38 3

3.1  408 39 3

2.97 412 40 3

3.24 424

TABLE 11

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 41 3

3.63 428 42 3

2.82 395 43 3

2.72 435 44 3

3.06 449 45 3

2.84 338 46 3

3.15 424 47 3

3.23 412 48 3

2.68 338

TABLE 12

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 49 3

3   408 50 3

3.28 408 51 3

3.09 412 52 3

3.26 396 53 3

3.44 392 54 3

3.12 392 55 3

2.96 334 56 3

2.98 370

TABLE 13

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 57 3

3.02 354 58 3

2.91 415 59 3

2.76 346 60 3

3.13 350 61 3

2.5  347 62 3

2.81 370 63 3

2.96 330 64 3

2.91 370

TABLE 14

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 65 3

3.06 370 66 3

2.79 346 67 3

3.02 366 68 3

3.07 350 69 3

2.8 350 70 3

3.17 344 71 3

2.79 338 72 3

3.06 370

TABLE 15

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 73 3

2.92 334 74 3

2.99 354 75 3

2.87 354 76 3

3.11 415 77 3

2.85 334 78 3

2.98 360 79 3

2.92 352 80 3

3.04 352

TABLE 16

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 81 3

3.07 366 82 3

3.1  395 83 3

2.57 359 84 3

2.84 373 85 3

2.52 384 86 3

3.31 392 87 3

2.46 308 88 3

2.63 354

TABLE 17

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 89 3

3.08 358 90 3

1.86 320 91 3

2.86 358 92 3

2.28 303 93 3

2.57 360 94 3

2.99 342 95 3

2.42 334 96 3

3.32 375

TABLE 18

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 97 3

2.76 384 98 3

2.85 384 99 3

2 317 100 3

2.88 384 101 3

2.73 350 102 3

2.54 334 103 3

2.98 440 104 3

2.52 316

TABLE 19

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 105 3

2.39 361 106 3

2.7 350 107 3

2.92 364 108 3

2.84 364 109 3

2.84 364 110 3

2.71 330 111 3

2.93 344 112 3

2.86 344

TABLE 20

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 113 3

2.88 344 114 3

2.69 348 115 3

2.73 348 116 3

2.81 390 117 3

2.22 266 118 3

3.04 322 119 4

2.71 316 120 4

2.73 316

TABLE 21

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 121 4

3.16 378 122 4

3.02 395 123 5

2.97 395 124 6

2.43 302 125 6

2.61 316 126 6

2.61 316 127 6

2.61 316 128 6

2.8 352

TABLE 22

Ex Ps

RT ESI+ 129 6

2.86 352 130 6

3.14 378 131 6

2.75 380 132 6

2.97 395

TABLE 23 Ex NMR-DMSOd6 28 7.36-7.46 (2H, m), 7.85 (2H, d), 8.00 (1H, d),8.06-8.11 (3H, m), 8.37 (1H, s), 13.03 (1H, br) 80 7.33-7.45 (2H, m),7.70-7.78 (2H, m), 8.02-8.07 (4H, m), 8.13 (1H, d), 8.26 (1H, d), 8.44(1H, s), 9.01 (1H, d), 13.00 (1H, br)

Example 133

To a solution of 300 mg of 1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid in 9 mL of THF,2.68 mL of 1.60 M n-BuLi hexane solution was added dropwise while theinner temperature was kept at −50° C. or lower by cooling in a dryice-acetone bath, and the resulting mixture was stirred at the sametemperature for 5 minutes, then at 0° C. for 1 hour. The solution wascooled in a dry ice-acetone bath and a solution of 461 mg of4-methoxybenzenesulfonyl chloride in 1 mL of THF was added dropwise. Thesolution was stirred at 0° C. for 3 hours. To the solution, 20 mL of 5%aqueous potassium hydrogen sulfate solution and 40 mL of water wereadded in this order, and then the resulting mixture was extracted withethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with saturated aqueoussodium chloride solution and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, andthen the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. To the residuewas added 5 mL of ethyl acetate, and the resulting mixture was stirredat room temperature for 15 minutes. The white crystals formed werecollected by filtration to obtain 509 mg of1-[(4-methoxyphenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid as a whitesolid.

Example compounds listed in Tables 24 to 31 below were obtained by themethods similar to that described in Example 133.

TABLE 24 Ex Str 133

134

135

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

TABLE 25 Ex Str 143

144

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

TABLE 26 Ex Str 153

154

155

156

157

158

159

160

161

162

TABLE 27 Ex Str 163

164

165

166

167

168

169

170

171

172

TABLE 28 Ex Str 173

174

175

176

177

178

179

180

181

182

TABLE 29 Ex Str 183

184

185

186

187

188

189

190

191

192

TABLE 30 Ex Str 193

194

195

196

197

198

199

200

TABLE 31 Ex Str 201

202

203

204

205

206

207

208

TABLE 32 Ex Data 133 NMR-DMSOd6: 3.81 (3H, s), 7.12 (2H, d, J = 9.0 Hz),7.35-7.45 (2H, m), 7.96-8.11 (4H, m), 8.34 (1H, s), 12.97 (1H, s) ESI+:332 134 ESI+: 332 135 ESI+: 386 136 ESI+: 316 137 ESI+: 316 138NMR-DMSOd6: 2.34 (3H, s), 7.35-7.44 (4H, m), 7.95-8.07 (4H, m), 8.34(1H, s), 12.99 (1H, s) ESI+: 316 139 ESI+: 330 140 ESI+: 358 141 ESI+:358 142 ESI+: 320 143 ESI+: 336 144 NMR-DMSOd6: 7.36-7.46 (2H, m), 7.85(2H, d, J = 8.8 Hz), 8.00 (1H, d, J = 7.6 Hz), 8.06-8.11 (3H, m), 8.37(1H, s), 13.03 (1H, s) FAB−: 378 145 ESI−: 368 146 ESI+: 380 147 ESI−:325 148 ESI+: 350 149 ESI+: 354 150 API+: 370 151 ESI+: 370 152 ESI+:370 153 ESI+: 370 154 ESI+: 417

TABLE 33 Ex Data 155 NMR-DMSOd6: 3.81 (3H, s), 6.79 (1H, d, J = 8.2 Hz),7.35 (1H, t, J = 8.2 Hz), 7.5-7.8 (4H, m), 8.08 (2H, m), 8.14 (1H, s),12.62 (1H, s) FAB+: 332 156 ESI+: 411 157 FAB: 330 158 ESI−: 409 159FAB−: 330 160 FAB+: 332 161 FAB+: 408 162 ESI−: 484, 486 163 NMR-DMSOd6:2.39 (3H, s), 7.24 (1H, d, J = 8.6 Hz), 7.61 (2H, m), 7.73 (1H, m), 7.85(2H, m), 8.11 (2H, m), 8.30 (1H, s), 12.97 (1H, s) ESI−: 314 164 ESI−:392 165 FAB−: 356 166 FAB−: 314 167 ESI−: 392, 394 168 NMR-DMSOd6: 0.86(3H, t, J = 7.3 Hz), 2.89 (2H, q, J = 7.3 Hz), 7.20 (1H, d, J = 7.1 Hz),7.33 (1H, m), 7.66 (2H, m), 7.78 (1H, m), 7.87 (2H, m), 8.03 (1H, dd, J= 0.7, 7.8 Hz), 8.42 (1H, s), 12.98 (1H, s) FAB−: 328 169 ESI−: 406, 408170 FAB−: 370 171 ESI−: 342 172 FAB−: 420, 422 173 FAB−: 342 174 ESI−:420, 422

TABLE 34 Ex Data 175 NMR-DMSOd6: 7.30 (1H, m), 7.6-7.8 (4H, m), 8.01(1H, m), 8.16 (2H, m), 8.45 (1H, s), 13.12 (1H, s) ESI−: 318 176 ESI−:396, 398 177 FAB−: 332 178 FAB−: 346 179 ESI−: 360 180 ESI−: 374 181ESI−: 352 182 ESI−: 410 183 ESI−: 414 184 ESI−: 386 185 ESI+: 371 186FAB−: 344 187 NMR-DMSOd6: 7.22 (1H, m), 7.36 (1H, m), 7.68 (2H, m), 7.79(1H, m), 7.94 (1H, d, J = 8.1 Hz), 8.07 (2H, d, J = 7.3 Hz), 8.44 (1H,s), 13.15 (1H, s) FAB+: 320 188 ESI−: 396 189 ESI−: 360 190 NMR-DMSOd6:7.48 (1H, m), 7.65 (2H, m), 7.78 (1H, m), 8.01 (2H, d, J = 8.4 Hz), 8.15(2H, m), 8.44 (1H, s), 13.17 (1H, s) ESI−: 334 191 NMR-DMSOd6: 7.39 (2H,m), 7.65 (2H, m), 7.80 (1H, m), 7.99 (2H, m), 8.16 (1H, dd, J = 6.8, 2.2Hz), 8.52 (1H, s), 13.17 (1H, s) ESI−: 333 192 NMR-DMSOd6: 7.41 (2H, m),7.87 (2H, m), 7.96 (2H, m), 8.16 (1H, dd, J = 7.1, 2.1 Hz), 8.52 (1H,s), 13.17 (1H, s) ESI−: 413

TABLE 35 Ex Data 193 NMR-DMSOd6: 1.20 (6H, d, J = 6.8 Hz), 2.96-3.04(1H, m), 7.35-7.42 (2H, m), 7.53 (2H, d, J = 8.5 Hz), 7.93 (2H, d, J =8.8 Hz), 8.15 (1H, dd, J = 7.6, 1.7 Hz), 8.52 (1H, s), 13.17 (1H, s)ESI+: 378 194 NMR-DMSOd6: 2.44 (3H, s), 7.39-7.45 (2H, m), 7.68 (1H, dd,J = 8.0, 2.0 Hz), 7.77 (1H, d, J = 8.4 Hz), 7.82 (1H, d, J = 1.6 Hz),8.18 (1H, dt, J = 9.2, 2.4 Hz), 8.47 (1H, s), 13.22 (1H, s) FAB+: 429195 ESI−: 368 196 ESI−: 446, 448 197 ESI+: 366 198 ESI−: 348 199 FAB−:348 200 ESI−: 426, 428 201 FAB+: 330 202 FAB−: 344 203 NMR-DMSOd6: 6.10(2H, s), 7.40 (1H, s), 7.48 (1H, s), 7.86 (2H, d, J = 8.0 Hz), 8.09 (2H,d, J = 8.0 Hz), 8.20 (1H, s), 12.97 (1H, s) ESI−: 422, 424 204 ESI−: 366205 FAB−: 385 206 FAB+: 407 207 FAB+: 407 208 NMR-DMSOd6: 1.57-1.67 (4H,m), 2.53-2.63 (4H, m), 7.76 (1H, s), 7.88-7.94 (4H, m), 12.48 (1H, s)ESI−: 382, 384

Example 209

To a solution of 1.0 g of7-benzyloxy-1-phenylsulfonyl-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid in 5 mL oftrifluoroacetic acid, 1.0 g of 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylbenzene was added,and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. 20mL of ether was added to the solution, insoluble matter was removed, thesolvent was evaporated under reduced pressure, and the residue waswashed with ethyl acetate to obtain 0.25 g of7-hydroxy-1-phenylsulfonyl-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid as a gray solid.FAB−: 316

Example 210 a) Ethyl 1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indole-2-carboxylate

To a solution of 0.5 g of potassium t-butoxide and 0.1 g of 18-crown-6in 3 mL of THF, a mixed solution of 0.7 g of ethyl1H-indole-2-carboxylate and 3 mL of THF was added, and the resultingmixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. The solution wascooled with ice, 1.13 g of 4-bromobenzenesulfonyl chloride was added,and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 5 hours.To the solution was added 60 mL of ethyl acetate, the resulting mixturewas washed with water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution anddried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and then the solvent was evaporatedunder reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel columnchromatography (ethyl acetate-hexane=1:5) to obtain 1.44 g of ethyl1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indole-2-carboxylate as a pale yellowsyrup. FAB+: 408, 410

b) {1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-2-yl}methanol

To a solution of 1.4 g of ethyl1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indole-2-carboxylate in 10 mL of THF, 7.6mL of diisobutylaluminum hydride-toluene solution was added at atemperature of −60° C. or lower, and the resulting mixture was stirredunder cooling in a dry ice-acetone bath for 5 hours and under icecooling for 2 hours. After the solution was cooled to −70° C., 5 g ofsodium sulfate decahydrate and 5 mL of methanol were added, theresulting mixture was warmed to room temperature, 50 mL of ethyl acetateand anhydrous sodium sulfate were added, insoluble matter was removed byfiltration, and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. Theresidue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (chloroform) toobtain 0.97 g of {1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-2-yl}methanol asa pale violet solid. EI: 365, 367

c) 1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indole-2-carbaldehyde

To a solution of 0.93 g of{1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-2-yl}methanol and 1.1 mL oftriethylamine in 10 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane, a solution of 1.21 g ofsulfur trioxide-pyridine complex in 5 mL of DMSO was added under icecooling, and the resulting mixture was stirred under ice cooling for 1hour. The solution was poured into a mixed solution of 25 ml of icewater and 25 mL of saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution, theresulting mixture was extracted with 100 mL of ethyl acetate, theextract was washed with 5% aqueous potassium hydrogen sulfate solution,water and saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent was evaporated under reducedpressure. The residue was washed with hexane to obtain 0.91 g of1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indole-2-carbaldehyde as a beige solid.FAB+: 364, 366

d) (2E)-3-{1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-2-yl}acrylic acid

To a solution of 0.41 g of1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indole-2-carbaldehyde in 3 mL ofpyridine, 0.35 g of malonic acid and 0.02 mL of piperidine were added,and the resulting mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 3 hours. After thesolution was allowed to cool, 50 mL of water and concentratedhydrochloric acid were added to adjust the pH to pH3, and theprecipitated solid was collected by filtration and washed with ethanolto obtain 0.29 g of(2E)-3-{1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-2-yl}acrylic acid as a paleyellow solid.

Example compounds listed in Table 36 below were obtained by the methodsimilar to that of Example 210.

TABLE 36 Ex Str 210

211

TABLE 37 Ex Data 210 NMR-DMSOd6: 6.59 (1H, d, J = 15.9 Hz), 7.33 (1H,m), 7.44 (1H, m), 7.52 (1H, s), 7.62 (3H, m), 7.80 (2H, d, J = 7.1 Hz),8.09 (1H, d, J = 8.5 Hz), 8.17 (1H, d, J = 15.9 Hz), 12.71 (1H, s) FAB−:404, 406 211 FAB−: 327

Example 212

To a solution of 180 mg of(2E)-3-[1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indol-2-yl]acrylic acid in 3 mL of ethanoland 5 mL of methanol, 50 mg of 10% palladium-carbon (wet, water content53%) was added, and the resulting mixture was stirred under hydrogenatmosphere (1 atm) at room temperature for 2 hours. The catalyst wasremoved from the solution, the solvent was evaporated under reducedpressure, and the residue was washed with ether to obtain 90 mg of3-[1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indol-2-yl]propanoic acid as a white solid.FAB−: 328

Example 213 a) Ethyl(2Z)-3-{1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-2-yl}acrylate

To a solution of 0.4 mL of ethyl di-o-tolylphosphonoacetate in 15 mL ofTHF was added 0.67 g of a 40% benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide-methanolsolution under cooling in a dry ice-acetone bath, and the resultingmixture was stirred at −70° C. for 15 minutes. To the solution, asolution of 0.47 g of1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indole-2-carbaldehyde in 5 mL of THF wasadded, the resulting mixture was stirred at −70° C. for 1.5 hours andunder cooling in an ice-methanol bath for 1 hour. To the solution, 50 mLof saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution was added, the mixture wasextracted with 100 mL of ethyl acetate, the extract was washed withwater and saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution and dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent was evaporated under reducedpressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography(ethyl acetate-hexane=1:5) to obtain 0.53 g of ethyl(2Z)-3-{1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-2-yl}acrylate as a paleyellow syrup. ESI−: 432, 434

b) (2Z)-3-{1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-2-yl}acrylic acid

To a solution of 0.5 g of ethyl(2Z)-3-{1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-2-yl}acrylate in 4 mL ofmethanol and 0.4 mL of THF, 1.5 mL of a 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxidesolution was added under ice cooling, and the resulting mixture wasstirred under ice cooling for 2 hours and at room temperature for 3hours. The solution was cooled with ice, 50 mL of water and 1.5 mL of 1M hydrochloric acid were added, the mixture was extracted twice with 30mL of chloroform, the extract was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate,and then the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residuewas purified by silica gel column chromatography(chloroform→chloroform-methanol=100:1→50:1) and then washed with hexaneto obtain 0.28 g of(2Z)-3-{1-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]-1H-indol-2-yl}acrylic acid as a paleyellow solid. FAB−: 404, 406

Further, compounds listed in Tables 38 to 50 can be easily produced bythe methods similar to those described in Examples above or applying themethods well known to the person skilled in the art based on thesemethods. These compounds are also included in the present invention.

TABLE 38

No. Ps

 1 3

 2 3

 3 3

 4 3

 5 3

 6 3

 7 3

 8 3

 9 3

10 3

11 3

12 3

TABLE 39

No. Ps

13 3

14 3

15 3

16 3

17 3

18 3

19 3

20 3

21 3

22 3

23 3

24 3

TABLE 40

No. Ps

25 3

26 3

27 3

28 3

29 3

30 3

31 3

32 3

33 3

34 3

35 3

36 3

TABLE 41

No. Ps

37 3

38 3

39 3

40 3

41 3

42 3

43 3

44 3

45 3

46 3

47 3

48 6

TABLE 42

No. Ps

49 6

50 6

51 6

52 6

53 6

54 6

55 6

56 6

57 6

58 6

59 6

60 6

TABLE 43

No. Ps

61 6

62 6

63 6

64 6

65 6

66 6

67 6

68 6

69 6

70 6

71 6

72 6

TABLE 44

No. Ps

73 6

74 6

75 6

76 6

77 6

78 6

79 6

80 6

81 6

82 6

83 6

84 6

TABLE 45

No. Ps

85 6

86 6

87 6

88 6

89 6

90 6

91 6

91 6

93 6

94 6

95 6

96 6

TABLE 46

No. Ps

 97 6

 98 6

 99 6

100 6

101 6

102 6

103 6

104 6

105 6

106 6

107 6

108 6

TABLE 47

No. Ps

109 6

110 6

111 6

112 6

113 6

114 6

115 6

116 6

117 6

118 6

119 6

120 6

TABLE 48

No. Ps

121 6

122 6

123 6

124 6

125 6

126 6

127 6

128 6

129 6

130 6

131 6

132 6

TABLE 49

No. Ps

133 6

134 6

135 6

136 6

137 6

138 6

139 6

140 6

141 6

142 6

143 6

144 6

TABLE 50

No. Ps

145 6

146 6

147 6

148 6

149 6

150 6

151 6

152 6

153 6

154 6

155 6

156 6

(Pharmacological Test)

An excellent selective inhibitory activity against human 17βHSD type 5of the compounds of the present invention was confirmed by a test methoddescribed below. Further, the test may be performed by referring to thedetails of test procedure described in Maniatis, T. et al., MolecularCloning—A Laboratory Manual Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY and thelike (1982). In addition, a gene encoding human 17βHSD type5 and type3described in 1 and 2 below, and human 17βHSD type5 and type3 may beobtained by the method described in Mol. Endocrinol, 1971-1984, 11(13)(1997).

1. Isolation of Gene Encoding Human 17βHSD Type 5 and Purification ofEnzyme

A full-length cDNA encoding human 17βHSD type 5 used in thepharmacological test of the present invention was obtained by the PCRmethod using a cDNA derived from a human lung cancer-derived cell line,A549 cells as a template. The nucleotide sequence of the obtained cDNAwas analyzed by the dideoxyterminator method, and the clone matched withthe known human 17βHSD type 5 sequence (GenBank accession No.NM_(—)003739) was selected. Escherichia coli BL21 was transformed with aplasmid containing the cDNA, cultured on a large scale, and the proteinswere purified by using GSTrapFF column (Amersham) andPreScissionProtease (Amersham). The purification was performed inaccordance with the instructions attached to the GSTrapFF column.

2. Isolation of Gene Encoding Human 17βHSD Type 3 and Purification ofEnzyme

A full-length cDNA encoding human 17βHSD type 3 used in thepharmacological test of the present invention was obtained by the PCRmethod using a cDNA derived from human testis as a template. Thenucleotide sequence of the obtained cDNA was analyzed by thedideoxyterminator method, and the clone matched with the known human17βHSD type 3 sequence (GenBank accession No. BC034281) was selected.Subsequently, a human fetus kidney-derived cell line, 293 cells wastransformed with a plasmid containing the cDNA, and the cells werecollected 24 hours later. The collected cells were then disrupted in aphosphate buffer solution containing 5% glycerol (500 μL per 100 mm-dishof a phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4, 200 mM) containing 5% glycerol)and centrifuged (16000 rpm, 5 min, 4° C.), and the supernatant was usedas an enzyme source.

3. Measurement of Enzyme Activities of Human 17βHSD Type 5 and Type 3

Enzyme activity was measured referring to Trevor M. Penning, et al.,Biochem. J., 351, 67-77, (2000). Specifically, using a 100 mM potassiumphosphate buffer (pH 6.0), (1) the enzyme purified in above 1 at a finalconcentration of 10 μg/mL, (2) androstenedione at a final concentrationof 300 nM, (3) NADPH at a final concentration of 200 μM and (4) a testsubstance at a final concentration of 3 μM were mixed to react at roomtemperature for 2 hours, and then the amount of testosterone producedwas measured using DELFIA (registered trademark) Testosterone ReagentsR050-201 (PerkinElmer). The measurement was performed in accordance withthe attached instructions. The amount of reduction of testosteroneproduction in the presence of the compound was obtained as a relativevalue with respect to the amount of testosterone in the absence of theenzyme set at 0% and the amount of testosterone produced in the absenceof the compound set at 100%. Then, IC₅₀ values were calculated by theLogistic regression method.

The IC₅₀ values of inhibitory activity against human 17βHSD type 5 andtype 3 of the Example compounds included in the compounds of the presentinvention are shown in Table 51. In addition, the IC₅₀ values ofinhibitory activity against human 17βHSD type 5 of the compoundsdescribed in Non-patent Document 19 and confirmed to be effective forEhrlich ascites tumor are shown in Comparative Examples (1) and (2) inTable 51. The structural formula of the compounds in ComparativeExamples (1) and (2) are shown below.

TABLE 51 Ex IC₅₀ (μM) (CEx) Type 5 Type 3 144 0.090 >10 190 0.69 >10 1555.5 >10 191 0.30 >10 175 0.12 8.9 163 0.22 >10 192 0.069 >10 187 2.2 >10168 0.085 >10 193 0.13 >10 194 0.19 6.2 203 2.0 >10 208 2.2 >10 1380.33 >10 133 3.1 >10  (1) >10 —  (2) >10 — CEx: Comparative Example

As shown by the test results above, the compounds of the presentinvention represented by formula (I) and/or formula (II) and/or formula(III) scarcely have inhibitory activity against human 17βHSD type 3 andhave inhibitory activity selective to human 17βHSD type 5. In addition,the compounds of Comparative Examples (1) and (2) that are known to beeffective for Ehrlich ascites tumor scarcely exhibited 17βHSD type 5inhibitory activity.

4. Measurement of Concentrations of Human 17βHSD Type 5 InhibitorCompounds in Mouse Tissues

The concentrations in plasma and in prostate were measured after oraladministration of a test substance. Male 8 to 15-week old ICR mice wereused, and a solution or suspension obtained by adding 1 N NaOH solutionand water in an equivalent amount to a test substance and stirring wasused as an administration solution. The administration solution wasadministered orally once to mice, and after 2 hours, blood and aprostate were collected under ether anesthesia. The prostate was frozenand stored at −80° C. until measurement. The blood was centrifuged (3000rpm, 15 min, 4° C.) after the addition of a minor amount of heparin, andthe upper layer was collected as plasma and frozen and stored at −80° C.until measurement. 0.1 mL of the plasma was subjected to proteindegeneration with 0.1 mL of acetonitrile and then centrifuged (15000rpm, 7 min, 4° C.) to remove proteins and the supernatant thus obtainedwas used as an HPLC sample. The prostate was homogenized in a phosphatebuffer solution (200 mM, pH 7.4, 0.5 mL), and then the whole volume wasadded to 3 mL of t-butyl methyl ether to perform extraction. The solventwas evaporated in a stream of nitrogen (15 min, 45° C.). The residue wasresuspended in a Tris buffer solution (12.5 mM, pH 7.4, 0.3 mL)containing 2% BSA, and an equal volume of acetonitrile (0.3 mL) wasadded. Protein was removed as in the case of plasma and the supernatantwas used as an HPLC measurement sample. Measurement was performed by anordinary method using liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results aredescribed in Table 52.

<HPLC Conditions>

Column: STR ODS-II (registered trademark), particle size: 5 μm, innerdiameter: 4.6 mm, length: 150 mm, joint type: WatersMobile phase: 20 mM ammonium acetate:acetonitrile=7:3 or 17 mM ammoniumacetate:acetonitrile=6:4Flow rate: 1 mL/minColumn temperature: 40° C.Injection volume: 50 μL

TABLE 52 Ex Dose (mg/kg) Conc (plasma) (uM) Conc (prostate) (uM) 1 3017.0 5.3 100 57.4 13.3 300 145.1 47.4 144 100 38.5 7.2 300 79.1 24.8 190300 225.5 37.4 155 100 88.4 23.0 175 100 83.8 8.6 163 100 88.8 19.1 192100 57.3 9.4 300 126.1 24.9 187 100 69.7 12.2 Dose: dose, Conc (plasma):concentration in the plasma, Conc (prostate): concentration in prostate

As shown by the test results above, the compounds of formula (I) and/or(II) and/or formula (III) show good oral drug absorption and prostatedistribution. Since the compounds of formula (I) and/or (II) and/orformula (III) have very weak inhibitory activity against human 17βHSDtype 3, it is expected to suppress intracrine testosterone synthesisselectively in the prostate by their selective inhibitory effect against17βHSD type 5 without affecting biosynthesis of testosterone derivedfrom human 17βHSD type 3 in the testes, thus useful especially fortreating and/or preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostaticcancer without adverse drug reactions.

A pharmaceutical composition containing the compound of formula (I)and/or formula (II) and/or formula (III) or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient can be prepared using acarrier, an excipient, and other additives that are generally used forformulation.

Administration may be any of oral administration using tablets, pills,capsules, granules, powders, liquids and the like, or parenteraladministration using injections such as intravenous injection,intramuscular injection and the like, suppositories, percutaneouspreparations, nasal preparations, inhalation preparations or others. Thedose is determined accordingly taking symptoms, age and sex of a subjectand the like into consideration depending on each case. The dose isgenerally around 0.001 to 100 mg/kg/day for an adult in the case of oraladministration, and the daily dose is administered in a single dose or 2to 4 divided doses. When it is administered intravenously according tosymptoms, it is administered one to several times a day at a dose in therange of 0.0001 to 10 mg/kg/dose for an adult. In the case ofinhalation, it is administered one to several times a day at a dose inthe range of 0.0001 to 1 mg/kg/dose for an adult.

As a solid composition for oral administration according to the presentinvention, tablets, powder, granules and the like are used. In suchsolid composition, one or more active ingredients are mixed with atleast one inactive excipient, for example, lactose, mannitol, glucose,hydroxypropylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, magnesium aluminometasilicate and the like. The compositionmay contain, according to an ordinary method, inactive additives, forexample, lubricants such as magnesium stearate and the like,disintegrants such as sodium carboxymethyl starch and the like, andsolubilization assisting agents. Tablets or pills may be sugar-coated orcoated with a gastric dissolving or enteric coating, if necessary.

A liquid composition for oral administration includes pharmaceuticallyacceptable emulsion, solution, suspension, syrup, elixir and the like,and contains inert solvents used in general, for example, purified waterand ethanol. The composition may contain, in addition to the inertsolvent, auxiliary agents such as solubilizing agents, moisteningagents, and suspending agents; sweeteners; flavoring agents; fragrances;and preservatives.

An injection for parenteral administration includes sterile aqueous ornon-aqueous solution, suspension, and emulsion. Examples of aqueoussolvents include, for example, distilled water for injection andphysiological saline solution. Examples of non-aqueous solvents include,for example, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils suchas olive oil, alcohols such as ethanol, polysorbate 80 (Pharmacopoeianame) and the like. The composition may further contain tonicity agents,preservatives, moistening agents, emulsifiers, dispersing agents,stabilizers, and solubilizing agents. The composition is sterilized by,for example, filtration through a bacteria-retaining filter,incorporation of a bactericide or irradiation. In addition, a sterilesolid composition may be first produced, and then dissolved or suspendedin sterile water or sterile solvent for injection before use, and thenused.

Transmucosal preparations such as inhalation preparations, transnasalpreparations and the like are used in a solid, liquid, or semisolidform, and can be produced by the method conventionally known. Forexample, excipients such as lactose and starch, and further, pHadjusting agents, preservatives, surfactants, lubricants, stabilizers,and thickeners and the like may be appropriately added. Foradministration, an appropriate device for inhalation or insufflation maybe used. For example, using known devices such as a metered doseinhalation device or spray device, the compound can be administeredalone or as powder of a formulated mixture or a solution or suspensionin combination with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. A dry powderinhaler and the like may be for single dose or multiple dose, and drypowder or powder-containing capsule may be used. Alternatively, apressurized aerosol spray and the like using an appropriate gas, such aspropellants, for example, chlorofluoroalkane, hydrofluoroalkane, carbondioxide or the like.

In producing suppositories, a low melting point wax, for example, afatty acid glyceride mixture or cocoa butter is melted, and an activeingredient is added and dispersed homogeneously by stirring. After that,the mixture is injected into an appropriate mold and cooled forsolidification. Liquid preparations include solution, suspension,retention enema and emulsion, for example, a water or aqueous propyleneglycol solution.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Since the compound, an active ingredient of the medicament of thepresent invention, has a selective inhibitory effect against 17βHSD type5 and a superior pharmacological effect based thereon, thepharmaceutical composition according to the present invention is usefulas a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for diseases associated with17βHSD type 5, particularly prostatic cancer, benign prostatichyperplasia, acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, baldness, alopecia, precociouspuberty, adrenal hypertrophy, polycystic ovary syndrome, breast cancer,lung cancer, endometriosis, leiomyoma or the like.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A method for producing a medicament for a treatmentand/or prevention of a disease associated with 17βHSD type 5 comprisingadmixing a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltthereof:

wherein L represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(aaa), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or aryl amino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the R_(aaa) may be substituted by loweralkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted loweralkyl(s); R¹¹¹, R²²², R³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ represent hydrogen or anappropriate substituent, in which at least one of the R¹¹¹, R²²², R³³³,R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ represents carboxy, carboxy-substituted lower alkylor carboxy-substituted lower alkenyl, and any adjacent two groups ofR³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ together may form a lower alkylene dioxygroup; a double line of a solid line and a dotted line represents asingle bond or a double bond; and p represents an integer of 1 to 15;with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or excipient.9. A method for producing a medicament for a treatment and/or preventionof prostatic cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, acne, seborrhea,hirsutism, baldness, alopecia, precocious puberty, adrenal hypertrophy,polycystic ovary syndrome, breast cancer, endometriosis, lung cancer orleiomyoma comprising admixing a compound of formula (I) or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein L represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(aaa), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or aryl amino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the R_(aaa) may be substituted by loweralkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted loweralkyl(s); R¹¹¹, R²²², R³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ represent hydrogen or anappropriate substituent, in which at least one of the R¹¹¹, R²²², R³³³,R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ represents carboxy, carboxy-substituted lower alkylor carboxy-substituted lower alkenyl, and any adjacent two groups ofR³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ together may form a lower alkylene dioxygroup; a double line of a solid line and a dotted line represents asingle bond or a double bond; and p represents an integer of 1 to 15;with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or excipient.10. A therapeutic and/or preventive method for a disease associated with17βHSD type 5, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof aneffective amount of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof:

wherein L represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(aaa), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or aryl amino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the R_(aaa) may be substituted by loweralkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted loweralkyl(s); R¹¹¹, R²²², R³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ represent hydrogen or anappropriate substituent, in which at least one of the R¹¹¹, R²²², R³³³,R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ represents carboxy, carboxy-substituted lower alkylor carboxy-substituted lower alkenyl, and any adjacent two groups ofR³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ together may form a lower alkylene dioxygroup; a double line of a solid line and a dotted line represents asingle bond or a double bond; and p represents an integer of 1 to 15.11. A method for treating and/or preventing prostatic cancer, benignprostatic hyperplasia, acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, baldness, alopecia,precocious puberty, adrenal hypertrophy, polycystic ovary syndrome,breast cancer, endometriosis, lung cancer or leiomyoma, comprisingadministering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of acompound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein L represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(aaa), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or aryl amino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the R_(aaa) may be substituted by loweralkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted loweralkyl(s); R¹¹¹, R²²², R³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ represent hydrogen or anappropriate substituent, in which at least one of the R¹¹¹, R²²², R³³³,R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ represents carboxy, carboxy-substituted lower alkylor carboxy-substituted lower alkenyl, and any adjacent two groups ofR³³³, R⁴⁴⁴, R⁵⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶⁶ together may form a lower alkylene dioxygroup; a double line of a solid line and a dotted line represents asingle bond or a double bond; and p represents an integer of 1 to 15.12-15. (canceled)
 16. A method for producing a medicament for atreatment and/or prevention of a disease associated with 17βHSD type 5comprising admixing a compound of formula (II) or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof:

wherein T represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(aa), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or arylamino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the R_(aa) may be substituted by loweralkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted loweralkyl(s); R²², R³³, R⁴⁴, R⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶ represent hydrogen or anappropriate substituent, in which at least one of R²², R³³, R⁴⁴, R⁵⁵ andR⁶⁶ represents carboxy; and m represents an integer of 1 to 15; with atleast one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or excipient.
 17. Amethod for producing a medicament for a treatment and/or prevention ofprostatic cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, acne, seborrhea,hirsutism, baldness, alopecia, precocious puberty, adrenal hypertrophy,polycystic ovary syndrome, breast cancer, endometriosis, lung cancer orleiomyoma comprising admixing a compound of formula (II) or apharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein T represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(aa), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or arylamino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O— heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the R_(aa) may be substituted by loweralkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted loweralkyl(s); R²², R³³, R⁴⁴, R⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶ represent hydrogen or anappropriate substituent, in which at least one of R²², R³³, R⁴⁴, R⁵⁵ andR⁶⁶ represents carboxy; and m represents an integer of 1 to 15; with atleast one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or excipient.
 18. Atherapeutic and/or preventive method for a disease associated with17βHSD type 5, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof aneffective amount of a compound of formula (II) or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof:

wherein T represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(aa), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or arylamino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the R_(aa) may be substituted by loweralkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted loweralkyl(s); R²², R³³, R⁴⁴, R⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶ represent hydrogen or anappropriate substituent, in which at least one of R²², R³³, R⁴⁴, R⁵⁵ andR⁶⁶ represents carboxy; and m represents an integer of 1 to
 15. 19. Amethod for treating and/or preventing prostatic cancer, benign prostatichyperplasia, acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, baldness, alopecia, precociouspuberty, adrenal hypertrophy, polycystic ovary syndrome, breast cancer,endometriosis, lung cancer or leiomyoma, comprising administering to apatient in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formula(II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein T represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(aa), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or arylamino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the R_(aa) may be substituted by loweralkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted loweralkyl(s); R²², R³³, R⁴⁴, R⁵⁵ and R⁶⁶ represent hydrogen or anappropriate substituent, in which at least one of R²², R³³, R⁴⁴, R⁵⁵ andR⁶⁶ represents carboxy; and m represents an integer of 1 to
 15. 20-35.(canceled)
 36. A method for producing a medicament for a treatmentand/or prevention of a disease associated with 17βHSD type 5 comprisingadmixing a compound of formula (III) or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof:

wherein A represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(a), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or arylamino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the R_(a) may be substituted by loweralkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted loweralkyl(s); R² to R⁶ represent hydrogen or an appropriate substituent, inwhich at least one of R² to R⁶ represents carboxy, and any adjacent twogroups of R³ to R⁶ together may form a lower alkylene dioxy group; and nrepresents an integer of 1 to 15; provided that when R² is carboxy, R³,R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is 1-naphthyl, A is a bond and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than4-methoxy; when R² is carboxy, R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than hydrogenand 4-methyl; when n is 2, a combination of two R_(a) is selected fromcombinations of groups other than a combination of 4-methyl and 3-nitroand a combination of 3-methoxy and 4-methoxy; when R³ is carboxy, R²,R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than4-methyl; when R⁴ is carboxy, R², R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R³ is2-bromophenyl,

is 2-thienyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R₁ is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is3-methoxycarbonyl-3-hydroxyacryloyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is3-carboxy-3-hydroxyacryloyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is acetyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁵ is carboxy, R² is methyl, R³, R⁴ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than4-methyl; and when R⁵ is carboxy, R², R³, R⁴ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is 8-quinolinyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/orexcipient.
 37. A method for producing a medicament for a treatmentand/or prevention of prostatic cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia,acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, baldness, alopecia, precocious puberty,adrenal hypertrophy, polycystic ovary syndrome, breast cancer,endometriosis, lung cancer or leiomyoma comprising admixing a compoundof formula (III) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein A represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(a), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or arylamino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the R_(a) may be substituted by loweralkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted loweralkyl(s); R² to R⁶ represent hydrogen or an appropriate substituent, inwhich at least one of R² to R⁶ represents carboxy, and any adjacent twogroups of R³ to R⁶ together may form a lower alkylene dioxy group; and nrepresents an integer of 1 to 15; provided that when R² is carboxy, R³,R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is 1-naphthyl, A is a bond and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than4-methoxy; when R² is carboxy, R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than hydrogenand 4-methyl; when n is 2, a combination of two R_(a) is selected fromcombinations of groups other than a combination of 4-methyl and 3-nitroand a combination of 3-methoxy and 4-methoxy; when R³ is carboxy, R²,R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than 4-methyl;when R⁴ is carboxy, R², R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R³ is 2-bromophenyl,

is 2-thienyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is3-methoxycarbonyl-3-hydroxyacryloyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is3-carboxy-3-hydroxyacryloyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is acetyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁵ is carboxy, R² is methyl, R³, R⁴ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than4-methyl; and when R⁵ is carboxy, R², R³, R⁴ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is 8-quinolinyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/orexcipient.
 38. A method for treating a disease associated with 17βHSDtype 5, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof aneffective amount of a compound of formula (III) or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt thereof:

wherein A represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(a), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or arylamino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the may be substituted by lower alkyl(s),lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted lower alkyl(s); R²to R⁶ represent hydrogen or an appropriate substituent, in which atleast one of R² to R⁶ represents carboxy, and any adjacent two groups ofR³ to R⁶ together may form a lower alkylene dioxy group; and nrepresents an integer of 1 to 15; provided that when R² is carboxy, R³,R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is 1-naphthyl, A is a bond and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than4-methoxy; when R² is carboxy, R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than hydrogenand 4-methyl; when n is 2, a combination of two R_(a) is selected fromcombinations of groups other than a combination of 4-methyl and 3-nitroand a combination of 3-methoxy and 4-methoxy; when R³ is carboxy, R²,R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than4-methyl; when R⁴ is carboxy, R², R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R³ is2-bromophenyl,

is 2-thienyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is3-methoxycarbonyl-3-hydroxyacryloyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is3-carboxy-3-hydroxyacryloyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is acetyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁵ is carboxy, R² is methyl, R³, R⁴ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than4-methyl; and when R⁵ is carboxy, R², R³, R⁴ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is 8-quinolinyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen.
 39. A method for treating and/or preventing prostatic cancer,benign prostatic hyperplasia, acne, seborrhea, hirsutism, baldness,alopecia, precocious puberty, adrenal hypertrophy, polycystic ovarysyndrome, breast cancer, endometriosis, lung cancer or leiomyoma,comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effectiveamount of a compound of formula (III) or a pharmaceutically acceptablesalt thereof:

wherein A represents lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, —O-loweralkylene, lower alkylene-O— or a bond, in which each of the groups maybe substituted by aryl(s);

represents an aryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclic group; R_(a), which isthe same or different, represents hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano,lower alkenyl, halogen-substituted lower alkyl, lower alkyl-O—, cyanolower alkyl-O—, halogen-substituted lower alkyl-O—, aryl, heteroaryl,aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, aryl lower alkyl, acyl-O—, acyl, heteroaryllower alkyl-O—, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfonyl, oxo, nitro, amino,mono-lower alkylamino, di-lower alkylamino, acylamino or arylamino, inwhich the aryl, the heteroaryl, and the aryl and the heteroaryl moietiesof each of the aryl-O—, heteroaryl-O—, heteroaryl lower alkyl-O—, aryllower alkyl and arylamino in the R_(a) may be substituted by loweralkyl(s), lower alkyl-O-(s), halogen(s) or halogen-substituted loweralkyl(s); R² to R⁶ represent hydrogen or an appropriate substituent, inwhich at least one of R² to R⁶ represents carboxy, and any adjacent twogroups of R³ to R⁶ together may form a lower alkylene dioxy group; and nrepresents an integer of 1 to 15; provided that when R² is carboxy, R³,R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is 1-naphthyl, A is a bond and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than4-methoxy; when R² is carboxy, R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than hydrogenand 4-methyl; when n is 2, a combination of two R_(a) is selected fromcombinations of groups other than a combination of 4-methyl and 3-nitroand a combination of 3-methoxy and 4-methoxy; when R³ is carboxy, R²,R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than4-methyl; when R⁴ is carboxy, R², R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R³ is2-bromophenyl,

is 2-thienyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is3-methoxycarbonyl-3-hydroxyacryloyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is3-carboxy-3-hydroxyacryloyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R₂ is a group other than hydrogen;when R⁴ is carboxy, R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are hydrogen, R² is acetyl,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen; when R⁵ is carboxy, R² is methyl, R³, R⁴ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is phenyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other than4-methyl; and when R⁵ is carboxy, R², R³, R⁴ and R⁶ are hydrogen,

is 8-quinolinyl, A is a bond, and n is 1; R_(a) is a group other thanhydrogen. 40-41. (canceled)